Chatham County was founded in 1771 is located geographically in the center of the state. The county’s population of over 64,000 live in an area of over 707 square miles amid multiple rural communities and four incorporated towns (Goldston, Pittsboro, Siler City, and a small portion of Cary). Residents can reach major universities and North Carolina cities (Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, etc.) within less than one hour. Additional county information is located at www.chathamnc.org.

School District Quick Facts:

Chatham County Schools has seventeen schools: four high schools (three traditional and one alternative), three middle schools, five K-8 schools, and five elementary schools. Slightly more than 8,200 students enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grades. Drivers of 91 yellow school buses travel well over one million miles each school year transporting approximately 3,900 students to and from school. Multiple schools have pre-kindergarten and after school programs. The district employs over 1,200 people and is the largest employer in Chatham County. The teacher retention rate in 2013 was 86.65%.

A new school with a student capacity of 650, Margaret B. Pollard Middle School, opened in January of 2011. The school has many “green” features and has earned LEED Gold certification. In doing so the school became the first LEED Gold certified middle school in North Carolina.

The State Board of Education has released accountability data for the 2013-2014 school year. The test scores reveal that all 17 of the district’s schools met or exceeded growth expectations. Eight schools met growth, and nine exceeded growth. Progress toward achieving growth is based on the federally required Annual Measureable Objectives (AMOs) for English Language Arts/Reading, Mathematics and Science in grades 3-8 and English II, Biology, Math I, Cohort Graduation, Attendance, ACT, and WorkKeys in grades 9-12.

Chatham County Schools also out-performed North Carolina composites in the areas of reading and math in grades 3-8. In addition, our district out-performed North Carolina results in Math I, Biology, English II and on composite scores for the ACT and WorkKeys. Three out of four Chatham County high schools exceeded the state 4-year graduation rate and all four high schools exceeded the 5-year graduation rate.

We have a strong commitment to meeting the needs of our 21st century learners by giving them the best technology we can offer. The district is entirely wireless. Thanks to support from an $800,000 Golden LEAF Foundation grant, the district was able to achieve another goal in its 1-to-1 Laptop Learning Initiative in the 2009-2010 school year, to issue high school students individual laptops. All other schools have carts of iBook laptops for classroom use. The district issues a laptop computer to every teacher for educational use at school and home.Technology in Chatham County Schools exists not to create an environment in which learning is supported by technology when convenient, but rather where learning is assumed to mean technology supported. This is achieved through technology that is consistently reliable, well trained, and well supported by systems and technicians. Technology is about people and not hardware whether dealing with students, teachers, or the obligations to district business operations.

Central Carolina Works is a joint initiative with Lee and Harnett Counties and the Central Carolina Community College. This partership will place additional resources and personnel in each of our high schools to help students with post-graduation planning. Additionally, students will be able to attend CCCC for college credits while enrolled in high school.

For the size of the school district, Chatham offers many Honors and Advanced Placement courses. Additionally, online and college level courses as well as award-winning arts and Career and Technical Education programs are available to high school students.

Science exploration is ongoing through four kit rotations for each class in kindergarten through fifth grade each year giving students hands-on experience in the study of science. Students in grades six through eight participate in another hands-on science program through CIBL (Center for Inquiry-Based Learning). Middle school teachers receive specialized training to help them teach the varied kits that include energy transfer transformation, chemistry in eighth grade, and seventh grade thrill ride that studies motion and forces.

All three traditional high schools have the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program. The voluntary program targets middle-performing students and those who will be first generation college students who have the desire, academic potential, and determination to succeed in a rigorous high school curriculum. High school staff work with 260 students across the district in the AVID program. Due to its success, AVID strategies are now being used with other high school and middle school students.

High school students can take courses at one of our other high schools if they are not offered at their home schools.